June 16, 2008

What about - "ahh, if only that song didn't have a violin (or other instrument), or if (instrument) wasn't so prominent, I might like it better"

Radio Edits

Rappers have had cuss words muted out, specifically for radio play for years - in an aid to play the song without offending those who listening in, or visiting, your store, school, hospital, on-hold system.

Bon Jovi

I've come to the realization that Bon Jovi are a glorified country act. JBJ has the wane in his voice, the acoustic guitar thing going, yet the image is that of hairband.

Well, the chaps who have brought us mp3 (and in the past developed Losono - a new mp3 surround-sound technology) have given YOU, the consumer, final control of the music you listen to - if it flies.

Here's the guts

The new format is called MT9 or appropriately known as Music 2.0. The format (they say) is "set to replace mp3 as the standard" as it contains a different collection of data than its predecessor, and offers something new in terms of a digital music experience. Right now, we currently download, or rip a CD, to mp3 and that is a copy of the final "produced" product. MT9 is something really different.

First, imagine, the artists, engineer, producer, record exec all sitting around in a state of the art studio, putting the finishing touches on their new album. Two weeks later, they're sent off for pressing (and servers upload), then released to the world to consume. Days later, the press are asking about the new sound.. "I hope everyone likes the new sound we're going for in our new album" they boast. "we worked tirelessly and had many arguments [and smoked a lot of something] but this something we're all proud of" usual shit, media buying it, crap.

And the spinWith MT9 - you control what you hear in the track. The audio is split into 6 channels. So the studios provide "grouped" sections of the track, for you to choose how you want to hear it.

Want to remove the vocal track, and hear it full instrumental? Go ahead, piss off the lead singer and fade them right down, even mute it out. Ha! Take that swine. Balk at the latest Bon Jovi track like me? Mute out the violins, and presto! It's a lite rock song.

Music 2.1?

The next stage, I would suspect, is to add the MIDI experience to it, that is being able to change sounds in the song. So musical data could be included which follows along as the track plays, and say, if you have bought a download plugin for your media player like Winamp or whatever, it shows you what sounds are playing, and which ones you can change to suit your taste.

So instead of a live drum set, danceheads might employ an electronic 'sound kit' to replace it on the fly, or you could beef up the latest Yanni cut with electric guitars, instead of a mandolin.

All of a sudden, Yanni could be a hip-hop artist AND speed metal artist. Bon Jovi could be acid jazz?

Now - the burgeoning question. Is this technology a good thing for musicians?